Wednesday, July 30, 2008

So, because I have no clue what I am doing - I also have no clue how to get a veil. I can order one, from the place I got my dress, but it would be custom made and $400. And, while the saleswoman tried to convince me that this was an 'investment' she also failed to answer my question of how this 'investment' would gain in value - the definition of an investment. I conceded on the dress front, and got a fabulous dress that was more than any single dress should ever cost, but a veil..I will wear this thing for all of 30 minutes and then take it off. Contrary to the saleswoman's belief, this thing will then be tucked neatly away in a box in my parent's basement for all of eternity. Until one of their animals lifts their leg on the box in which it resides, causing the soft ivory to turn to a lovely pee yellow. Okay, so enough of that. I would like a nice simple veil (see model below ...model being Robyn's friend Hollie), but I just don't think I need to make a $400 "Investment". Does anyone know of a great place to get a veil, or someone who makes them for less than $400???? Suggestions!?

Monday, July 28, 2008

Tomorrow is the big day, our little pup, Punky, turns 1! Yes, it is quite a big day. The occasion was marked with an afternoon party yesterday for 4 of her friends. Mocha Weinblatt, Honey Miller, Hershey Goldberg and Speck Miller joined us for an afternoon of home baked dog cookies, and puppy chow for the people along with present opening. The snacks were followed by a walk to the Sculpture garden were the dogs had a lovely time relieving themselves on the sculptures. A good time was had by all.

So this post is for you Punk - quite possibly the most spoiled, doted upon, and adored dog in the world. Happy Birthday baby!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Thursday, July 24, 2008

blogger website is having issues...guess that is all the pictures I can post for now. Look on facebook or wedding website for more

weinblattandfrank.weddings.com

I really just like the pictures of the pup. Is that normal?

p.s. Jeremy and I are trying to get in on the 'cool crowd' at The Groveland (the building we live in). A few weeks ago we went to one of the community happy hours, tonight, we tackled the community pot luck - lets just say - it was great. We were invited on a tour of our friend's, the Chase's condo. We met their dog, toured their home, saw their beds (and yes, I mean beds...two double beds in their bedroom). Oh yea, we're pretty cool in the over 75 club, we may have to save up our aches and pains for the next one so we have conversation to contribute.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Engagement pictures are being mailed to us tomorrow (on a CD). The only hint we have is that they went 'very artsy'... Sounds exciting to me. Hopefully they didn't superimpose punky's face over Jeremy's or something like that. Though come to think of it, that could be pretty amazing!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

You got it - it's official....WE HAVE DAIRY QUEEN. Now if you know Jeremy, you know he does not make too many requests. He is very easy to please, happy with most everything. For our wedding, he said (perhaps jokingly) that he wanted Dairy Queen Blizzards for dessert. Well when someone doesn't ask for much, the least I could do was oblige when he does! So...after begging, and pleading, calling, and researching we have figured it out! We will have a Dairy Queen Blizzard Man at the wedding! So I've spilled the great secret, but you won't know the flavors. You have to show up to find out!

This may be the most exciting development so far. However, again, in an effort to thank and give credit, it all goes to my mom. My mom with the insane sweet tooth, who did all of the calling, researching, begging and pleading. My wonderful mother who will do most anything in the world for her two favorite things, Chocolate and Ice Cream. (Ha, and you thought I was going to say my sister and I...no way! Chocolate and Ice Cream supersede children. And I don't blame her)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

And I will give credit where credit is due, so it is with that that I thank both Ali Schoenberger (well really Nancy Schoenberger), and the fine people at google. Drum roll please....THE GOOGLE SPREADSHEET! So when you are working on a spreadsheet at work, and you can collaborate through the office with other users on the network, well this is the same idea for non office users. We created our wedding list on google documents, I added the necessary people as 'users' and now we are all working on the same wedding list. We are not passing around 17 different versions of the same Excel spreadsheet, not looking at different versions, spelling people's names wrong - nope, we are all looking at the very same document at all times. Constantly updating it, and working together to gather the information. It is brilliant, wonderful, and the greatest gift the 21st century has given to weddings. Well maybe that and Spanx. This sucker is brilliant.

So...if you are reading this because you have not yet planned your wedding, look - maybe I have just shared a little gem of wisdom with you! I am not a complete fool about wedding planning anymore, I know all about google documents!

Friday, July 18, 2008

I'm stumped...what do people do for music at the ceremony? Anyone know someone who is good. I guess I'd like something a bit more exciting than the piano, but maybe not, maybe that is fine. I don't know!

Jeremy has kindly offered to sing, he thought we could just do a duet while we are standing up there. Very good idea, I'm all for it. Unfortunately, I don't think the rest of the world would appreciate our musical endeavor.

Monday, July 14, 2008

First, I have fans! People actually do read this! Big shout out to Sally for informing me this weekend that people do read my blog and enjoy it! That's fantastic! Though really, it's quite cathartic to write, as it allows me to think through the process as I go, and reflect on the enormity of my ignorance!

Friday we drove out to meet with a videographer for our wedding. It was the beginning of a torrential downpour, and we knew we were going to hire this guy, not matter what, but for some unknown reason we still braved the elements to meet him in the middle of Roseville. Nevertheless, we met with this guy, and asked him the typical questions.

Jeremy: Have you ever done a Jewish wedding?Videographer: NoVideographer: Where will the wedding be held?Jeremy and Kara: The new Westin in Edina.Videographer: There's going to be a new Westin in Edina!?Videographer: So, this is going to be an amazing video with stills and music!Jeremy and Kara: Yea, our parents just said we have to have one - we don't really care all that much about video.

Needless to say, not the most productive meeting, but all in all, the guy is really nice, young, and creative - and I'm sure he'll do a fine job. Jeremy did inform him that there's something called a Chuppa - a canopy over us during the ceremony, and he mustn’t move it and must get video of us under it - that is pretty much the key to a Jewish ceremony. The rest, he'll figure out. Yea, we're flying by the seat of our pants on this one. Taking a leap of faith. Oh well!

We have, on many occasions discussed getting all of our wedding vendors together for drinks at our place. They are all young, fun, energetic, creative, wonderful people -- I think it could be a blast. Just a thought...but it could be entertaining!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

A few weekends ago, Jeremy and I went to Crate and Barrel to open a registry for the wedding. We felt it was fairly early, but friends and family had asked us to do so - so we obliged. Well this was a bit like the blind leading the blind. After our hour long tour of the store by their very helpful, but also very overwhelming, 'registry guru' ...we found ourselves, standing, blank faced and bamboozled, in the middle of what seemed to be the world's largest Crate and Barrel store.

There was china, so many varieties, colors, materials, knives - do you get a set, or individual. As Jeremy has pointed out - who’s going to buy us 1 butcher knife for our wedding gift? I can just picture the card: "Dear Jeremy and Kara hope you have a long and happy life together filled with lots of joy. Enjoy the butcher knife". We might as well register for a chainsaw. And then there are utensils, and pots and pans, sheets, towels - and they all start looking the same. And - most of it we can't even look at because we are far too early, and as we learned, the entire store will turn over twice before our wedding. So...that would be futile. After mulling around the store for an additional 45 minutes - Jeremy managed to find one item to register for - 5000 jars of chocolate sauce. Yep, that's all we had on there! By the time we left we managed to remove the chocolate sauce and in its place add a soap dispenser, metal bowls and a colander. This does not bode well for our future needs. If you visit us we will be eating strained foods, out of bowls, with really clean hands.

Let’s hope round two in a few more months is a bit more successful. For now - we'll leave our three items on there and call it a day.

Tonight is try #2 for the engagement photos. Wish us luck - let’s hope it works this time! Have I mentioned we are hosting a birthday party for Punky!? Oh yes, it’s her first birthday -- there will be a dog cake, goodie bags, perhaps a walk to the park. She was allowed to invite 4 guests; it should be a raging' good time.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Though there have been many exciting advancements, thought I'd send out an update on my amazingly exciting life this time!

** This past weekend we spent in Chicago visiting friends, walking, shopping, and eating. Lots of eating. We tried to go to Garrett's -- which after many trips to chi-town, I somehow have missed, but the lines were down the block. And well, if you know me, you know I don't do lines. Lines are for people with patience. I am not one of those people.

We did have an amazing Dim Sum brunch at David Burke Chicago thanks to our friend Todd's suggestion. They may have stood us up in Chicago, but their dining suggestions are top notch. If you have never eaten short ribs, fried chicken, ham hock mac and cheese, shrimp, lobster lollypops, pork buns, eggs Benedict, creamed spinach, tuna tartar, ice cream sundaes, key lime pie, cheesecake (and that's not everything) for breakfast, well you are just missing out. You should probably plan a special trip. It was unbelievable. So unbelievable, I am still not hungry - 36 hours later.

**Punky has remained STD free for several months now; I consider this a major feat. We are very proud parents. She has also refrained from eating her own feces for a while now. We have the next Dougie Houser, M.D.

**Jeremy has not sung to her lately, maybe we'll have a singing spell this evening. I'm thinking something to the tune of 'you are my sunshine'.

**We played a very fun game on our trip - I highly recommend it for all of your traveling needs - its called..."count the crocks". The goal - count how many people you see wearing crocks, best place to begin - any airport across the US, but particularly Minneapolis/St. Paul.

I think that's about all for now. My words of wisdom. I know, they're like gold - cherish them. Send me comments - I have to make sure people are reading this! But heck, even if you're not - and I'm writing this to myself, I'm still okay with that. Is that odd?

About Kara Leigh Frank

I'm just a girl in my 20's trying to find my way in the world and leave it a little better than when I came. I love to laugh, hopefully that will become abundantly clear if you read my blog. I also firmly believe that life should not be taken too seriously, you could say that's my motto. Minnesota girl - enjoying life - trying to figure it all out.

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What began as a wedding blog has evolved a bit. I began to write about my stumbles through wedding planning, and found that it had little to do with said topic. Rather, it was an outlet to describe some of the ridiculousness that tends to follow me. So, with that, and with the wedding behind us, I will charge on. If you will continue to read. If not, I will likely still charge on. Charging, writing, blogging, to myself. So read please!